Lost Souls by J. Bishop (the giving tree read aloud txt) 📗

“It appears I am. Let’s keep going. You and Shay have an altercation by your pool. Maybe she meets you or you meet her, who knows? But you fight. You hit Shay in the head with something hard, and she falls into the pool. But she’s drunk, you make no effort to save her, and she drowns. You panic. You’ve just killed your sister. What do you do?” He paused, but Lydia didn’t react.

Trick took a small step toward her. “You called the only person you could. Bradley. He’s the only one you trust. You tell him what happened while Shay’s floating in the pool. Strangely enough, he gets a bright idea. He tells you to leave and come here, to Shay’s, and he’ll take care of it. He contacts the authorities. Tells them you called, upset and unstable. He was worried, suggested you were suicidal and requested someone check in on you. The police arrive and find you dead, or at least they think it’s you. They can’t find a photo ID because of your photography issues, which is a form of Scopophobia, in case you didn’t know, but Bradley arrives at the scene and happily offers to identify the body. Tells them it’s you, not Shay. They zip her up, take her off, nobody questions it, Bradley authorizes cremation because you had made him executor, there’s a memorial which unfortunately Shay refuses to attend due to the contentious issues with her sister, and everyone thinks Lydia’s dead.” He tipped his head. “How am I doin’ so far?”

She set her jaw.

“My big question is why, though? Why pretend to be Shay? But then your mother told us Shay got a nice payday when her dad died, so you and Bradley slowly withdraw her funds and wait for the dust to settle, only Chad interrupts the closing credits.” He took another step closer. “That one I am a bit confused about. Why kill Chad?” He thought about it. “Did your interest in him precede your logic? Did you go see him or did you call him? Is that why he stayed home that day? Because it freaked him out that a dead woman had contacted him or because you’d threatened him when he didn’t return your devotion? Did you watch from the vacant apartment, smoke a few cigarettes, and when Cissy disappeared, you knocked on his door, tried one more time to sway him, and when he said no, or worse, threatened to call the police, you shot him?”

Lydia tightened the grip on her gun and cocked her head. “You all finished with your lovely story?”

“Not quite.” Trick glared. “Where’s Mason? Where’s Mikey?”

She sneered. “You’re the one who knows everything. Take a guess.”

Trick kept an eye on the gun. If he could get a little closer, he might be able to grab it before she could fire. “My guess is Bradley’s earning his keep.”

“You got that right. And once he’s done, we’re out of here, and you and the rest will be nothing but an afterthought.”

“I’m not too sure of that, Lydia.”

“I’m pretty sure of it, Trick.”

Trick raised his hands higher. “Put the gun down. There’s been enough tragedy. We don’t need more. Let me help you.”

“Your death will not be a tragedy. More like overdue.”

Trick relaxed his posture. “Lydia. It isn’t worth it. None of this is. You can’t kill all of us and expect to escape. And what happens when Bradley gambles all the money you’ve taken from Shay away? Then where do you go?” He took another step. “If you turn yourself in, you can get the help you need.”

Her posture turned rigid. “I don’t need your help,” she yelled. “I don’t need anyone’s help. Maybe if my mother had done her job and not looked the other way when…” she faltered, but just as quickly recovered. “…the only thing I need is time and you’re taking way too much of it.”

“I’m not alone, Lydia. Others are on their way. Your precious time is up.”

“Then I guess I better hurry.”

Trick took a step closer and eyed the gun. “Lydia─”

“Get back,” she spat, and Trick stopped.

Lydia’s sanity was unraveling, and Trick was running out of options. “This is your last warning.” He paused. “I’ll give you to the count of three.”

She snickered. “Count us down then, and we’ll see who’s left standing.”

“Please, Lydia…” Trick mumbled a curse when she straightened her aim. “Remember. It was your choice.” He braced himself. “One…” He paused. “…two…” Lydia’s finger tightened on the trigger. “…three.” Trick dove to the side and hit the floor, just as Valerie flew in from the open door, her gun raised and in firing position. “Freeze,” she yelled. “Put down your─”

Lydia swiveled, turning the gun on Valerie, and Valerie fired.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Mikey waited. The car had stopped, and she heard faint footsteps, then the trunk popped, and bright light made her squint. Bradley stood above her, holding his gun. “Get out.”

Mikey pushed up. Her eyes adjusting to the light, she held the edge of the trunk. “Please. Let me go.”

“I said get out,” said Bradley. His expression left little room for argument.

Shaking, Mikey slid out of the back of the car, got her feet on the ground and stood. “Don’t shoot me.” She raised her hands. “Please.”

“We’re going to take a little walk in the woods. Let’s go.” He waved the gun.

Her stomach knotted in terror. Mikey knew if she walked away with him, she would never return. “Bradley, don’t do this.” Her fingers trembled.

“You’ve left us no choice. You and your brother should have stayed out of it.”

Her mind raced with thoughts of how to escape. “Just leave. Right now. I’ll keep my mouth shut, and by the time I find my way back, you and…” She paused, wondering if her theory was correct. “…is it Lydia? Is Lydia the one who’s alive, and Shay’s dead?” Maybe if she could distract him, she’d get an opportunity to run.

He scowled at her.

“Chad